Improvement in tension devices for piano-forte strings



I. D.ELLIO T.

TENSION DEVICES FOR PIANO-FORTE STRINGS. Nvo.1.79,9*03. Patented Ju1y18,1876.

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MPETERS, PHCTO-LITHOGRAFHER. WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENTQFFICE. ,i

JOSEPH D. ELLIOT, OF NEWTON, ASSIGNOR -TO ROGERS UPRIGHT FIANO l COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN TENSION DEVICES FOR PlANO-FORTE STRINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 179,903, dated July 18, 1876; application filed May 22 To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, JUSEPII D. ELLIOT, otl Newton, ofthe county of Middlesex and Sta-te ot' Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Stringing' and Tension Devices for Piano-Fortes; and do hereby declare the same to be fully described in the following specification and represented in the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure 1 is a top view, and Figs. 2 and 3 longitudinal sections, of part of the metallic string-trame ot' a piano-forte, with my invention applied to two of its strings.

In the said drawings, A denotes the stringi'ramc, of' which a a are the hitch-pins, and b the bridge. Each of the strings B is bent at or near its middle halt'- way around a hitch-pin, a, while near its two ends such string is extended through and wound about two rotary pins, C D, extending upward from a pair ot' slides, E F, one ot' which rests on the other, and the latter on the hooked support-bar c ot' the frame. rlhe lower, E, of each pair of slides E F is slotted lengthwise, as shown at d in the aforesaid drawings, and also in Fig. 4, which is a top view ot' the said slide, to receive a lug, c, extending up from the bar c, which, with the slot, serves to guide the slide rectilinearly while it is in movement, as well as to aid'in supporting it in place.

Furthermore, each oi' the lower slides E has an ear,f, extending down from it at its rear end, and in rear oi' the plate or bar c. A screw, y, screws into and through such ear and against the next adjacent edge of the plate or bar c. The upper slide F, at its front end, is provided with a projection, h, to enter the slot of the lower or fellow slide, and to each ofthe said upper slides F there is a screw, t', which, in Fig. 2, is shown as screwed into and through an ear, 7c, extending' down from the slide ,F and in rear of the fellow or lower slide, angl against the end thereof. The said screw i is shown in Fig. 3 as screwed into the the end ot' the slide F and against a projection, l, extending up from the fellow slide into a slot or groove, m, made lengthwise in the upper slide.

Eachof the pins C D is to be provided with some means of stopping it from revolving.

, 1ere.

after the wire may have been wound upon it suflicicntly. Such means may be a pin going into a slot in the slide and transversely through the pin C or D; or the pin C or l) may be provided with a series of teeth or studs, projecting from it to co-operate with a stud inserted in the slide.

From the above it will be seen that the two adjusting or straining screws g z' of each pair of slides E F do not impinge against one common lug or projection extended from the bar c up through slots in both slides, as is the case with each pair of string-slides shown and described in the United States Patent No. 171,047, granted on the invention of' Charles E. Rogers, but that the screw ot' the upper slide impinges directly against either the end of the lower slide or a projection extending up from said lower slide, such modilication being attended with a highly important advantage or result, viz., the ability to strain both branches ofthe string at once by revolving the screw of the lower slide, which will cause both slides to be simultaneously drawn backward. Thus, with my improvement, it will be observed that, bythe two screws, both branches of the string may be brought or strained into unison with one another, and afterward, by simply turning the lower screw, the pitch of both nlay be varied simultaneously; whereas, were the screws ot' the pair ot' slides to work against a common lug projecting up from the supportbar c, the pitch ofthe branches could not thus be obtained, but would have to b e determined by moving both screws, with the liability of unequally*straining the branches. By moving back bothnslides simultaneously by a sin-` gle screw, they will beV equally strained, and can be readily and quickly brought to the right pitch alter having been strained in'unison. The straining-screw of the lower of the pair Vof slides, instead ot'V abutting directly against the edge of the support-bar, may be screwed into the end of the slide of such screw and against a lug or projection to extend up from the said bar into a slot or chamber in the slide, this latter Aarrangement and application of the screw with reference to the slide and supportbar being a mechanical equivalent for the ear extended from the slide, with the screw screwed through such ear and against the edge of the har.

I do not claim the combination of the slotted slide, its straining-screw, and wire fastening-pin. Nor do I claim a pair of such slides arranged on a lug extending up from the sup port-bar, and having the ends ofthe strainingscrews of said slides abutting directly against it, all as represented in the aforesaid patent.

I claiml. In a pair of slides provided with strainingserews and Wire fastening-pins, as described, the straining-screw t of the upper slide F, applied to screw or Work against the lower slide E or a projection, Z, therefrom, in combination with the screw g ot' said lower slide, arranged to impinge or screw against the support-bar e or a projection therefrom7 all being substantially as set forth.

2. In the piano-forte string-straining mechanism, as described, either or each wire-straining slide ot' the pair E F, as provided With the earf or k extended down its rear end7 and having its moving screw g or@l screwed through such ear, as represented.

. JOSEPH D. ELLIOT.

Witnesses:

R. H. EDDY, J. R. SNOW. 

